A method and apparatus for transporting a supercarrier signal over a network
span
is described. The apparatus includes a network for transporting the supercarrier
signal, which includes messaging information, using a first protocol. The apparatus
further includes a network span comprising a plurality of low bit rate network
sections for transporting a plurality of trib signals using a second protocol,
and a transparent demultiplexer connected to the network and the network span for
demultiplexing the supercarrier signal into the trib signals. The demultiplexer
is arranged to insert into the plurality of trib signals the messaging information
required to maintain said first protocol. The apparatus also includes a multiplexer,
connected between the network span and the network, for transparently multiplexing
the trib signals into the supercarrier signals. Also described is a transparent
multiplexer and a transparent demultiplexer.
